Paper-folding machine



. {NVENTOR EDWARD WORTMANN ATTORNEY PAPER FOLDING MACH x; 15 '7 Shee'bs Sheew". 2

lNVENTOR EDWARD WOETMANN ATTORNEY Get. 23, 1923, 11 471 874 E. WQRTMANN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE File M y 15. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOE ED WA 122': WOETMHN/V ATTORNEY mmn sm INVENTOR EDWARD WOETMANN ATTORNEY \NOPLTMANN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE INVENTOR ED WA an we RTM/ /VN y A KZZvW/Ql/Qw ATTORNEY (1m mm, v n a m gm E. NQRTMANN I PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 15,1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet a v FUR. n {7 :1

I INVENTOR EDWARD WQETMANN I ATTORNEY E. WORTMANN PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed y 15. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 WVENTOQ EDWARD WO/ETMANN Fatentecl @ct. 23, 1923.

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Application filed may 15, 1922. Serialllfo. 560,973.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it ,knownthat ll, EDWARD WORTMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to machines for folding sheets of paper of different sizes and thickness so as to provide therein various folds as desired, for example, to folding machines of the type disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent Nos. 972A69; and 1,099,88t.

The invention has for' its object, in

,machines of this character to provide a construction whereby the rate of folding may be'increased thru the elimination of parts, and wherein greater accuracy in the folding is obtained: and, also, to afford improved and continuous, non-timed rectifying mechanism for properly locating and positioning the paper prior to giving it the initial fold.

A further objectof the invention consists in providing a member which may act both as a folding blade for the first fold or as a deflector for causing the paper blank to be fed without folding, or as a combined folder and defiector;- and, also, to provide a horizontally disposed roller which will the function of ,a feeding possess not only 7 but serve asa folding roll roll on the top, beyond.

A still further object of the invention consists in means for readily and conveniently changing the direction of delivery, and also of fold, of the paper without requiring the shifting of a large portion of the mechanism, especially the driving mechanism, as is the case with the machines set forth in the "patents noted. As a result of same, a great reduction in the number of parts. is effected and abetter action obtained. 1

The nature of'the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which i Fig. 1 is a plan of the folding machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevationv of'one side of the machine, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite side thereof.

Fig. 4% is a front elevation of the machine,

and Fig. 5 is a rear-elevation.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

, Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal sections taken respectively on the lines 7-7 and 8-8, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section similar to Fig. 8, and illustrates the adjustment provided for theejector roll adapted to change the direction of delivery or folid.

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail sectional views illustrating the deflector position corre sponding to the respective positions of the shifted ejector roll.

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary sections, taken respectively on thelines 1212and 13-13, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 1% and 15 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating the folding operation.

F ig. 16 is a detail sectional view showing the horizontalfolding blade actingal so as provided, beyond the portion 23, with a further horizontal portion and beyond same with a shot or opening 26, the sheet being 'fed forward intosaid opening over and by a feed roll 27 to which the table top is tangent. A drop roller 28 is periodically depressed toward the feed roll 27 to cooperate therewith in feeding the sheet.

- Power for actuating these rolls, as well as for effecting the various movements in timed relation to each other, is derived from a power shaft 29 carrying roll 27 and to which shaft may be belted orotherwise connected a motor 30, as the source of power. It is preferred, also, to attach a hand wheel 31 to the -power shaft 29 for manual operation of the machine, as in preparing the machine for a run.

Q and be retained in this position until As the paper sheet is fed forward by the roll 27, it continues over the table until it strikes a transverse abutment or stop-gauge 35, adjustable longitudinally of the table, and passes under the rectifier, hereinafter described, aswell as under a plurality of adjustable guards 36. After the paper has reached this position and its accurate regist is insured by the rectifier means, a blsid e folder 37 is caused to descend, said folder having an intermittent, vertical reciprocation properly timed to the feeding action thru the operation of drop roller 28. The stroke of the blade is so adjusted as to be sufficient tobring the paper with it into the bite of the feed roll 27 and a cooperating roll 38 for effecting the first fold ofthe paper. This causes the folded sheet to be forced downwardly intoa guide 39 in position to receive a second or double fold, as hereinafter set forth. The blade in the meantime has been retracted, and the mechanism is ready to receive and feed a further sheet.

In feeding the sheet over the table, it will be appreciated that the same must be properly positioned with reference to the descending blade and must, therefore, have its far edge abut accurately the stop-gauge withdrawn thru the action of the folding blade. Heretofore, timed mechanism has been provided in an attempt to properly align and position the paper sheet with reference to the blade and stop-gauge; but it is a practical impossibility to afford the necessary accuracy of timing to produce satisfactory results. The present invention contemplates a non-timed or continuously operating device which will engage with the. advancing paper sheet and insure its proper contact with the stop-gauge to retain the sheet in position until the blade acts. To this end, there has been provided with the stop-gauge, and adjustable vertically thereof as thru suitable bolts 40, a r0- tatable wheel or roller 41, reference being had more particularly to Figs. 12 and 13. The-wheel 41 is carried on a shaft 42 supported in a bifurcated arm 43 secured to the stop-gauge 35 by the adjustable bolts 40. Rotation is imparted to the shaft 42, preferably from the driving mechanism of the machine as thru a connecting flexible shaft 44; although, so far as the'operation is concerned, the shaft 42 may be rotated by independent means as it bears notimed and wheel when no paper sheet is inter-' posed, and as indicated by the position thickness of the paper. ,This will serve to decrease the driving force of the shaft thereon and substantially stop the rotational ve locity of the wheel, the friction between the surface of the wheel and the paperserving to hold paper to the first fold stop-gauge 35. It is preferred, also, to make the pe riphery of the wheel 41 of some material such as rubber or the like which will pro- .vide a frictional surface 46 to better grip the paper sheet 49 and advance and direct same for making contact along its entire forward edge with the abutment 35. The opening 45 provided is sufficient to accommodate reasonable variation in thickness of the paper; but if paper of extraordinary thickness be used, the arm 43 may be ad.- justed thru the bolts 40 to accommodate. same. Moreover, as the wheel 41 bears so lightly when the paper is positioned, no mark is made thereon thru the action of the wheel surface 46 and the paper sheet will be permitted to be withdrawn from beneath the wheel when the blade acts.

The blade 37, which normally nas an 1n-' termittent reciprocation timed to the feed of the roll. 27, is so constructed, moreover, that is may serve as a deflector for the paper as when it is desired to omit the first fold. To this end, blade 37 is arranged to be disengaged from the driving mechanism thru its adjustable operating cam 37. The blade, furthermore, has a portion 50 curved at its edge toward the direction of feed of the paper; and when in the position indicated in Fig. 16,. will guide and direct the paper sheet directly into the bite of the cooperating rolls 27 and 38 for feeding the sheet downwardly into the machine to be folded. This construction admits also of employing the blade to fold a sheet with initial overlap, as the curved portion of the blade deflects then the shorter end and prevents buckling of same and clogging of the machine.

It will be noted, also, that the machine, as shown, is provided with one feeding roll only, namely the roll 27 at the head of the guide 39 and with its upper surface substantially tangent to the surface of the table. 7 i

This eliminates the preliminary feed roll usually employed and any danger of unequal feed resulting from the use of two rolls, which would result in buckling or creasing the paper as well as clogging of the machine. The construction herein set forth admits, also, of employing the feed roll 27 with the cooperating drop roll '28, when the blade 37 is stationary, as shown in Fig. 16, to positively feed but not fold the sheet of paper.

After the paper has been fed downwardly into the machine, as aforesaid, and either with .or without a fold, a second fold-{or first fold) is imparted to same by a transversely acting-and intermittently reciprocated blade 55, designed to pass thru a vertical slot 56 to fold the paper and also direct same between two vertically disposed rolls 57 and 58. The paper may be discharged thru these rolls in cooperation with a further roll-59 which is arranged to coact with "eitherof the two rolls 57 and 58, as hereinafter set forth; In this manner, either a right or left delivery or a further folding of the paper sheet with right or left fold may be obtained. The folded sheet is, then delivered to the usual stacker for removal from the machine. j

Reference being had more particularly to Figs. 7 to- 11', it will be noted that the rolls 57, 58 and 59 are driven respectively thru gears 60, '61 and 62, the gear 61 being in mesh with a drive gear 63. Gear 62 with its roll 59, furthermore, is movably mounted at the end of a lever 64 for oscillation, its spindle 65 moving in an arcuate slot 66. This slot serves to limit the extent of oscillation of the roll in accordance with the movement of the lever 64 so that the gear wheel 62 may engage with either the gear wheel 60, as shown in Fig. 7; or, may be swung over into engagement with the gear wheel 61,, the two corresponding positions:

of the roll being shown in Figs. 8 and 10 and Figs. Stand 11, respectively. It will be understood that when a further fold is not desired the paper, already once or twice .folded, is ejected (Fi s. 10 and 11) by means of the roll 59 acting in conjunction with a deflector 67 which is manually removable and may be positioned in corresponding slots 71 and 71' to accommodate either the right or left delivery, as aforesaid. The shifting lever 64 may be locked ineither position by means of a pin 68; and the roll 59 is spring-pressed for engagement with either of the rolls 57 ,or 58 by means of a spring 69 acting upon a slidably mounted block 70, carrying the mounting for the spindle 65.

Should a third fold, either right or left,

he desired, the slots 71' and 71 are pro-- vided to receive'the usual'paper guide72,

having the adjustable stop or gauge-73 (Fig. 14); and in accordance with the invention,

the same is made removable as by being slidably mounted ineither of the saidslots 71 or 71, so that it may be secured upon either side of the shifting lever64 to accommodate either the right or' left fold. in this manner, the use of a considerable numof gear trains, and accessory mechanism is obviated, reducing appreciably lost motion and insuring more accurate action in the folding operations. It will be understood, of course, that the-stacker 74 will also be required to shift from one side to the other in accordance with the shifting of the position of roll 59; and the same is, therefore,

removably attached to the frame, as indicated. Thestacker guide rods 75 similarly are removably mounted.

I claim:

' 1. In a paper folding machine: a pair of folding rolls, an ejector roll, and means to shlftsame to cooperate with either of said folding rolls.

2.. ln a paper folding machine: a pair of folding rolls,'an ejector roll, means to shift same to co-oPerate with either of said foldmg rolls, and stacker mechanism operatively associated therewith. Y

3. lln a aper folding machine: a pair of folding r0 ls, an ejector roll, means to shift same to cooperate with either of saidfolding rolls, and an adjustable paper guide to cooperate with said folding rolls and shiftable ejector roll in either position of the latter.

' 4;. In a paper folding machine: a pair of folding rolls, an ejector roll, means to shift same to cooperate with either of said folding rolls, and removable stacker mechanism Hill) to cooperate with the said rolls in either position of the said shiftable ejector roll.

5. In a paper folding machine: a pair of folding rolls, gear wheels thereon and meshing with each other, an ejector roll having a gear wheel, and a lever .on which said e ector roll is mounted, said lever being movable to cause engagement of the gear of said ejector roll with either of the gears of said folding rolls; 4

6.111 a paper folding machine: a pair'of folding rolls,gear wheels thereon and meshing with each other, an ejector roll having a gear wheel, a lever on which said ejector Qroll is mounted, said lever being movable to cause engagement of the gear of said ejector roll witheitherofthe gears of said foldihg rolls, and means to resiliently hold said ejector roll toward the folding rolls.

7. In a aper folding machine; a pair of folding ro -ls, gear wheels thereon and meshing with each other,'an ejector roll having a gear wheel, a lever on which said ejector roll is inounted, sa d leverbeing'movable to cause engagement of the gear of said ejector roll witheither of the gears of said folding rolls, means to resiliently hold said ejector roll toward the folding roll, and a plate provided with an-arcuate slot reare ceive the spindle of the ejector roll and limit said ejector roll with either of the gears of the movement of same thru its lever. 1 said folding rolls, and means to hold said 10 8. In a paper foldin nachineca pair of lever in shifted position. folding rolls, gear whee s thereon and mesh- Signed at New York, in the county of 0 ing wlth .each other, an ejector roll having New York and State'of New York, this 9th a gear wheel, and a lever on which said day of May, A. D. 1922. ejector roll is mounted, said lever being I movable to cause engagement of the gear of I EDWARD WORTMANN. 

